Business

'Make your empty shop pop out' says retail group head

The owners of empty retail units are being urged to consider pop-up shops, such as this one at North Street, Belfast
The owners of empty retail units are being urged to consider pop-up shops, such as this one at North Street, Belfast The owners of empty retail units are being urged to consider pop-up shops, such as this one at North Street, Belfast

THE owners of empty retail units in Northern Ireland should market them to so-called pop-ups as vacancy rates remain "stubbornly high", it has been claimed.

According to the latest figures from the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium and Springboard, rates stand at 17.3 per cent.

While the rest of the UK has seen rates fall to their lowest in two years, those in the north continue to struggle.

Meanwhile, the number of shoppers taking to streets and shopping centres across Northern Ireland fell 0.7 per cent in September compared to the same month in 2014.

Marking and insights director at Springboard Diane Wherle said the north's vacancy rate "remains stubbornly high, but offers owners the opportunity to market their empty units to pop-ups".

"With more property owners now comfortable with marketing their empty units to pop-ups, flexible leases are becoming increasingly available, helping to bring much needed brands into empty space," she added.

"Indeed, the take up by pop ups elsewhere in the UK, alongside the improvement in high street footfall, demonstrates that this increased 'newness' is providing lapsed high street shoppers with a reason to visit.”

Belfast has seen a marked increase in temporary pop-up shops over recent years. Recent months have seen units occupied by retailers selling schoolbags ahead of the new term while several vacant shops are currently being used to sell fancy dress outfits in the run up to Halloween.

Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium Aodhán Connolly said the low footfall figures showed "very clearly the volatile nature of the retail market in Northern Ireland".

"Retail has made a clear commitment to Northern Ireland but for us to continue to invest, grow employment, and bring great value to consumers here, we need government to support us. That is why we launched our policy agenda making clear what our politicians could do to make our vision for retail a reality.

"Upper most on our list is the need for fundamental reform of business taxes in Northern Ireland to ensure that retail can be a keystone in the economic recovery here," he said.

Ms Wehrle added: “The perfect autumn weather, additional bank holiday trading day and lowest UK vacancy rate for two years are key drivers behind relatively pleasing figures for September.

"The drop of 0.2 per cent in footfall was the best year-on-year performance since March and the second best performing month over the last 17 months and, in Northern Ireland, the drop in footfall of 0.7 per cent was the best annual change since June.

"Perfect seasonal weather is vital to high street fashion sales with over a quarter of retailers we asked (26.8 per cent) confirming that they brought forward store drops of autumn/winter stock this season.

"Together with the additional bank holiday trading day, this boosted overall sales of outerwear and accessories, including footwear."